Hand Tinted Love

Happy Valentine's Day, Readers! Will you be my Valentine?

Every once in a while you see a dress that you MUST have.

Hello, Readers! How was your holiday? I was sick over ours which was totally lame, but we still enjoyed ourselves. Instead of going out we got dressed up and enjoyed an evening in. We bought a bottle of Barefoot and streamed Dick Clark's Rocking New Years Eve to the laptop.  It was lovely, but back to the Vintage.

Every once in a while you come across something that you MUST have. The feeling came upon me when I saw this super cute 1930s Tour Eiffel eyelet dress in an email from a dear friend.

It was love at first sight, my friends. I'd never seen anything quite like it, but I knew that I loved it. The eyelet lace top, the super cute giant bow (very 1930s), the neckline....

But at $425 it was about $400 out of my price range. Still, after three days of thinking about this dress non stop I decided that I may have to make recreating something like it my January project.

As I thought about it more pictured this new creation as more of a play suit. I was thinking about changing that skirt into pants and adding a zipper up the back. Everyone seems to be posting about 1930's Pajama Trousers lately and that probably accounts for why I've got them on the brain.

From Wearing History

From Tea with the Vintage Baroness

From Jennifer Anyan

Tooooooo cute! I just love these ladies who are wearing their breezy summer trousers to the beach or on a picnic. They look fashionable, carefree, and so comfy. I was thinking of redesigning the blue dress into something like so...

"Sketched" and photographed during 5 minute lunch break. I need a better cellphone camera, but anyways.

I quickly hopped on my favorite vintage pattern source (read: etsy) and managed to locate a few patterns that would make a good base for my play suit/jumper/frankensteined mental creation. I especially loved this little lady from 1930 who seemed to be just want I was looking for.

But what to you think, Dear Readers. Is this a great idea or a major fashion don't waiting to happen? You've never led me astray with your advice before so I'll trust your judgement.

Autochromes!

So today is the day that I have been looking forward to for a loooooooooong time. Autochromes!

Anna Stocká by Josef Jindřich Šechtl ca 1909. This photo is the earliest known autochrome of Šechtl's. The lady in the photograph is his future wife Anna. This is my favorite autochrome of all time and it is currently in the collection of the Šechtl & Voseček Museum of Photography. I am especially fond of the soft pale blue color of her dress and her beautiful wide brimmed hat.  

I'll start with an explanation of what an autochrome is. An autochrome is a color photo printed on glass using potato starch. Crazy right? The process was invited by Auguste and Louis Lumière (the same Lumière brothers who invented the motion picture camera the cinématographe). The process was patented in 1903 and was used as late as the 1930s.

The process used a screen of tiny potato starch grains dyed orange-red, green and violet. The grains were dusted onto a glass plate and then covered with a layer of panchromatic silver bromide emulsion. As light entered the camera it was filtered by the dyed grains before it reached the emulsion. The exposure time for one of these images was very very long, but the result was a semi opaque positive color image on glass that required no further printing.

Close up of Autochrome approx 1911

While working at the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film I was very fortunate to get to look at some autochromes up close. They need to be viewed on a light table to be seen properly, but I can tell you that the colors are even more vivid and stunning than the images in this post. It is very difficult to reproduce autochromes as digital files true to color because of the nature in which they are printed.

Autochromes are composed of a series of tri-colored dots (as you can see in the image above) that work like a video screen. Because the dots are so small and so closely packed together the colors of adjacent dots blend together in our eyes. Light from neighboring red and green dots will create a yellow color and like from violet and green dots will make a light blue. Neat, right?

I've included some of my favorite autochromes here, but I strongly encourage you to do a quick search online for others. It's amazing how well these images have held up over time and I just love getting to see the actual colors of frocks from the 1900s and teens!

Couple ca. 1910 by Mrs. Benjamin F. Russell. 

This lady is subscribing to a more relaxed fashion than the lady at the top of his post even though the photos were taken at relatively the same time. She's equally stunning in my opinion. I love the color of her frock, the simple cut, her matching pink scarf, and her cute hat. What do you think, Readers? Is that an engagement ring on her finger there?

Woman wearing red dress with houses in background ca. 1915.

 I find her up-do to be very lovely and her shoes to be very charming. It's a little hard to see but she is wearing a high lace collar and sleeves with lace cuffs. There are a ton of little button details up and down the front and sides of her dress that remind me of traveling coats from this era. I'm not sure what this frock is made out of, but the fabric is obviously quite thick and heavy. Canvas maybe? The way the fabric wrinkles around the skirt hem makes me lean more towards a heavy plant based fabric than an animal fabric.

Dancer wearing Egyptian-look costume with wings reaching to the floor ca. 1915

This would have been at the height of Egyptian fever, though still previous to the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb. As with most images from this period I could find out very little information about the woman in the photo and why she might be wearing this getup. Perhaps she is a dancer, though for what type of production I couldn't say.

Cowgirl by Mrs. Benjamin F. Russell  ca. 1910.

I love her! I love this image!  This autochrome is in the George Eastman House collection, Rochester, NY. I love her big hat and giant rodeo pants. I suspect this is more of a masquerade outfit or show outfit than actual work clothes, but I'm totally cool with that.

Lady Helen Vincent by Lionel de Rothschild ca 1910.

Lady Helen was apparently a society beauty and wife of the diplomat Sir Edgar Vincent. I am swooning over her beautiful pale pink dress with the lace sleeves. Just look at the lacy detail down the front of her skirt and the black belt around her waist is so classy.

Man and women carrying suitcases by Charles C. Zoller  ca 1907 - 1932.

I'm going to go ahead and guess that this print comes from 1918-1922 based on her dress and his sweater and tie. The only thing that keeps me from pinning this a few years later is the lack of make-up on her face. The early 1920s saw a huge swell in make-up usage with the widespread post-war availably of cosmetics. What do you think, Dear Readers? What time might this couple have lived in?

Unknown photographer, subject, and date... but wow. Just wow. Look at that dress! And look at those plumes on that hat! Look at that lace on her blouse! If this lady's attire doesn't scream fashion I don't know what does. Makes a girl want to start making Edwardian clothing doesn't it?

Seneca Pool 1924 ca. 1924

I really love these cute 1920s bathers. This pool was actually located not too far from where I went to college, but it has since been filled in. Look at how the ladies are mostly in dark wool swimsuits, but they wear brightly colored swim caps. I didn't realize that there were so many different cap color options when I wrote my 1920s swimsuit post. You learn something new every day. 

Logan Costume - Logan 5 References

Last night I began work on the Logan costume. I did not take any photos as last night consisted of opening patterns, washing fabric, changing out thread on the machine, and lots of pattern tracing. Generally pretty boring stuff.

Just two pieces to cut and sew make this pattern a popular and versatile answer to the knit top and sweater wardrobe for the men in the family. Try it with a crew neck, turtleneck, or buttons down the front. Pattern number 100 was designed especially for knit and stretch fabrics. You will enjoy its versatility and the simplicity of construction.

I must say that this 1967 Stretch and Sew pattern is just about the greatest pattern I've ever used. Four pieces. FOUR. Well, five if you add the turtle neck as I will. You also have an option of adding a ribbed knit collar should you so desire. I didn't have enough pattern paper so I traced the pattern onto parchment paper. 

And then I ran out of parchment paper so I traced it onto some wax paper.

Yeah, it was a little jury rigged. Don't judge.

Next step was to round up all my reference photos and get a good last look.

Velco in the collar.

This costume is going up for auction in December. Starting bid? $4,000. 

 

Quilted Triangle chest detail. 

After that I rounded up my reference photos and discovered something that had somehow escaped me before. That gray bar on the sandman uniform doesn't go around the back. Glad I was able to figure that out. Less work for me!

Tonight is make the shirt and tunic night. Totally doable if I don't run into any mechanical problems. Yay!

$25V's Facebook debut!

Jacqueline Bouvier ca. 1947

Much like Miss Jacqueline Bouvier above $25V is having its debut. Except instead of in fancy dress at a lavish party we're debuting on facebook. Come be our fan won't you?





Remember that we have a new Google Friend Connect Box over on the right as well so if you prefer to follow blogs that way please check it out!

See you!

Vintage wedding photo on Awkward Family Photos

I was browsing through the archives of http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com and found this photo.

Aside from the fact that the dresses seem to match the drapes behind them, I actually really like these bridesmaid dresses. The flower girl's dress is just adorable. We're not having a flower girl, but if we were I wouldn't be opposed to putting her in a cute dress like that.

So what do you think? Am I crazy for loving these gowns?

New Camera Request Approved!!

My birthday is just around the corner and my birthday gift has been approved!!! I requested a lovely new camera. My mother has approved my request! Mom, you are Awesome! I just can't wait to be able to upload photos again. Scratch that, I can't wait to be able to actually get photos off the camera again! Time for a happy dance!

Oh and that Vintage wedding dress shop I went to? It doesn't have vintage wedding dresses anymore so I totally lied about putting photos up. Now it's a somewhat alternative bridal boutique. We still had a really fun time, but we were not allowed to take photos because of designer copyright. I really enjoyed my first wedding dress shopping experience. If you are in Atlanta wedding dress shopping someday go there. The staff was wonderful! All the dresses were so unique and beautiful, but not vintage. Here are some real vintage wedding dresses to make up for it.

Albert & Vita Genco Wedding, Mid-1950s. Tell me you don't love that glorious full train. It's a bit much for me, but it is very elegant. I also love the bridesmaids's gowns. Love the sleeves. I wonder what color they were? Some sort of pastel. Pink and light blue were very popular colors of the time. I think my bridesmaids would be a little upset with me if I made them wear these today but I really do think those dresses are just so sweet and pretty. Perfect for the time.

This lady is such a doll. I really love her hat and veil. It's simple, elegant, and not overdone. This is more of a "me" look. I won't be having my wedding on a cold day (hopefully), but if I did I would love to have a coat like this to wear over it. I can certainly appreciate the more formal, long train dresses of the time, but my heart is in the simpler more elegant straight line dresses that would fit under a lovely coat like this.

Penn-De Hann wedding. August 1953. Look at all that lace! I have a love for lace. In fact at the bridal store the other day I ran straight for the lace dresses. So so beautiful. It is very unusual to see men in anything other than the white tuxedo jacket in the mid 1950s. Very formal weddings still had tuxes with the tails, striped pants, and glove combo. Some men still wore suits for more low key weddings, but these white tuxes were definitely very popular.

This is my absolute favorite dress of the bunch. Simple, elegant, not too much. And those buttons! Couldn't you just die? This is the Chorley-Lally wedding December 1954. I just love her shoes too. I want to build a time machine just so I can go back in time and get them. (Someday I might get over the white strappy shoe love, maybe..)

In the late 1950s we don't see many of the white coat tuxes anymore. I thought this photo was interesting because the men were wearing black tux jackets with white pants. The bridesmaids are so cute in their pink dresses. I love the daisy bouquets and of course the lovely hats. One of the groomsmen in the back doesn't seem to be having a very good day...

And finally this couple. Mendham-French wedding 1956. Men's formal tuxes still look the same. I really like her high necked wedding dress with eyelet fabric. It's so pretty! If you don't click on any others you have to click on this one to see the dress fabric. I wish they made attractive long sleeved wedding dresses today. I would be very tempted.

What do you think? Which dress is your favorite? Would you wear these dresses?

Costumes costumes costumes!!!

 Otherwise know as "OMG! I have 2 weeks left to get this all together!"

I've been a busy bee this week. Took a trip to the local theater supply company last night. What a blast! I had so much fun going through costumes, looking at costume construction and I confess... trying a few on. I couldn't help myself! They were too cute. Unfortunately I can't post any pictures, but know that the costumes were fantastic and that I am so inspired right now!

And inspiration is a mighty good thing. The show is in full swing. The first performance is labor day weekend. So things are just a bit stressed around here. Costume plots are together, measurements taken, costumes in mid-construction, bits and pieces ordered, thrift shops torn apart, feathers all over my house, chaos chaos chaos.

1977 Production of Guys and Dolls. Miss Adelaide and her Chick-Chick-Chickies

The principles are mostly done. Adelaide's wedding dress even fit right into this blog's budget. It cost me $25.00 at the local church shop and it is in fabulous shape. The lady playing Adelaide and I are about the same size so I tried the gown on for fit before purchasing. Only afterwards did I realize that that is the first and only wedding dress I've tried on so far. Bummer, but great for the show! The dress is just a little too pretty as it is so I'll be adding crazy tacky bows and ribbons. The director said go over the top and so we're going as over the top as we can. Matching? Bah. We are so above matching outfits in this show.

The boys are all wearing found and rented suits in various degrees of color. With such a short time frame there wasn't time for me to construct much, just a few costumes here and there. Still, I'm having a blast even if I'm more of the show's "personal stylist" than I am the costumer right now. Oh and did I mention I also have this little "wedding" thing going on as well? Tonight I meet with a wedding planner so there will be some costuming late into the night afterwards.

And I guess that it's for my update. It's back to my regularly scheduled crazy life now. Today please enjoy "Take Back Your Mink" from the 1955 version of Guys and Dolls, sung by the original Miss Adelaide Vivian Blaine.